{"id":2876,"date":"2014-05-31T09:08:35","date_gmt":"2014-05-31T09:08:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2876"},"modified":"2014-05-31T09:08:35","modified_gmt":"2014-05-31T09:08:35","slug":"bulletin-edition-213-june-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2876","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition #213 June 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

Only two families inhabit earth<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Henry Law<\/a>, “Deuteronomy” 1858)<\/em><\/p>\n

Only two families inhabit earth.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In principle,
\nin taste,
\nin habit,
\nin desire\u2014
\nthey are as separate as . . .
\nlight from darkness,
\ncold from heat,
\nlife from death.<\/p>\n

There is the serpent’s seed.
\nThere is the heaven-born race.<\/p>\n

There is the world.
\nThere is the little flock of grace.<\/p>\n

There is the broad road.
\nThere is the narrow way.<\/p>\n

There are the sheep.
\nThere are the goats.<\/p>\n

Hence the importance of the question\u2014
\n“Have you escaped from nature’s thraldom?
\nDo your feet tread the upward path of holiness?
\nDo you belong to Satan\u2014or to Christ?”<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

A living personal Jesus!<\/p>\n

<\/strong>(Archibald Brown<\/a>, 1884)<\/p>\n

“Christ is all!” Colossians 3:11<\/p>\n

Christianity is all centered in a person! Conversion is not a mere change of human opinion; it is the devotion of the heart to a person. A converted man is not a man who just changes his views concerning certain facts, or theories, or doctrines \u2014 but he is a man whose heart has become devoted to a living <\/em>Christ. All your religion, if it is worth anything \u2014 will be centered in a living personal Jesus<\/strong>.
\nYour doctrines <\/em>will all come from Him;
\nyour motives <\/em>will be found in Him
\nyour joys<\/em> will be found in Him;
\nyour acceptance <\/em>will be found in Him;
\nyour completeness <\/em>will be found in Him!<\/p>\n

“You are complete in Him!” Colossians 2:10<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Coming up from the wilderness<\/strong><\/p>\n

(J. C. Philpot, “Coming up from the Wilderness<\/a>” 1857)<\/p>\n

“Who is this coming up from the wilderness,
\nleaning upon her Beloved?<\/strong>” Song of Solomon 8:5<\/p>\n

To come up from the wilderness, is to come up out
\nof OURSELVES; for we are ourselves the wilderness.
\nIt is our wilderness heart<\/strong> that makes the world
\nwhat it is to us . . .
\nour own barren frames;
\nour own bewildered minds;
\nour own worthlessness and inability;
\nour own lack of spiritual fruitfulness;
\nour own trials, temptations, and exercises;
\nour own hungering and thirsting after righteousness.<\/p>\n

In a word, it is what passes in our own bosom
\nthat makes the world to us a dreary desert.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carnal people find the world no wilderness. It is an
\nEden to them! Or at least they try hard to make it so.
\nThey seek all their pleasure from, and build all their
\nhappiness upon it. Nor do they dream of any other
\nharvest of joy and delight, but what may be repaid
\nin this ‘happy valley’, where youth, health, and good
\nspirits are ever imagining new scenes of gratification.<\/p>\n

But the child of grace, exercised with a thousand
\ndifficulties, passing through many temporal and
\nspiritual sorrows, and inwardly grieved with his own
\nlack of heavenly fruitfulness, finds the wilderness
\nwithin.<\/p>\n

But he still comes up out of it, and this he does
\nby looking upward with believing eyes to Him who
\nalone can bring him out.<\/p>\n

He comes up out of his own righteousness<\/strong>, and
\nshelters himself under Christ’s righteousness.<\/p>\n

He comes up out of his own strength<\/strong>,
\nand trusts to Christ’s strength.<\/p>\n

He comes up out of his own wisdom<\/strong>,
\nand hangs upon Jesus’ wisdom.<\/p>\n

He comes up out of his own tempted, tried,
\nbewildered, and perplexed condition, to find rest
\nand peace in the finished work of the Son of God.<\/p>\n

And thus he comes up out of the wilderness of
\nself<\/strong>, not actually, but experimentally. Every desire
\nof his soul to be delivered from his ‘wilderness
\nsickening sight’ that he has of sin and of himself
\nas a sinner. Every aspiration after Jesus, every
\nlonging look, earnest sigh, piteous cry, or laboring
\ngroan, all are a coming up from the wilderness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

His turning his back upon an ungodly world; renouncing
\nits pleasures, its honors, its pride, and its ambition;
\nseeking communion with Jesus as his chief delight;
\nand accounting all things but loss and rubbish for
\nthe excellency of the knowledge of Jesus his Lord
\nas revealed to his soul by the power of God; this,
\nalso, is coming up from the wilderness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

An experimental Christian?<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Winslow, “This God is Our God”)<\/em><\/p>\n

The religion of the true believer is experimental<\/strong>;
\nit is the religion of the heart. He has no dealings
\nwith an unknown, imaginary God.<\/p>\n

He does not know God from the hearing of the ear,
\nor from the reading of books, or from the religious
\nconversation of others merely; but He knows Him
\nfrom personal acquaintance, from heartfelt<\/strong>
\nexperience<\/strong>, from close and constant dealings.<\/p>\n

There has been a manifestation of God in Christ to his
\nsoul, and with Job he can say, “I have heard of You
\nby the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You.”<\/p>\n

And with the converted Samaritans, “We no longer
\nbelieve just because of what you said; now we have<\/strong>
\nheard for ourselves,<\/strong> and we know that this man
\nreally is the Savior of the world.” John 4:42<\/p>\n

Oh to be a true, an experimental Christian!<\/strong><\/p>\n

The religion of the ear<\/strong>, or of the eye<\/strong>, or of the
\nimagination<\/strong>, or of the intellect<\/strong>, will not, and
\ncannot bring the soul to heaven!<\/p>\n

The abodes of endless woe are peopled with
\nsouls who went down to its regions of despair
\nwith no better religion than this!<\/p>\n

Oh, give me…
\nthe humility of the publican,
\nthe trembling faith of the diseased woman,
\nthe flowing tears of the penitent Magdalene,
\nthe last petition of the dying thief,
\nrather than the most intellectual religion or
\nthe most gorgeous ceremonial that the mind
\never invented, or the eye ever beheld.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Hope in Heaven<\/strong><\/p>\n

James Smith, 1855
\nMany Christians have but little in hand<\/em> \u2014 but they have much in hope<\/em>. They have little on earth<\/em> \u2014 but they have unsearchable wealth in Heaven<\/em>. The present, is the worst state they will ever be in. All beyond death \u2014 is bright, beamy, and glorious. God has amply provided for them, and what he has provided is laid up securely in Heaven. Hence, Paul speaks of “the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven, whereof you heard before in the Word of the truth of the gospel” (Colossians 1:5). The Christian’s hope is a confident expectation of future good \u2014 but here hope <\/em>is put for the object hoped for<\/em>: the believer’s hope is . . .
\nproduced by grace,
\nquickened by the promise, and
\ncenters in invisible blessedness!<\/p>\n

Let us notice \u2014<\/p>\n

First, The Christian’s hope<\/strong>. This consists in both freedom <\/em>and possession<\/em>. In freedom <\/strong>from . . .
\nall the pains <\/em>which we now experience, both in mind and body;
\nall the hindrances <\/em>which are so thickly strewed in our way in this present world;
\nall the fears <\/em>which now beset, agitate, and harass us, day by day;
\nall the forebodings <\/em>which often make our lives bitter and gloomy;
\nall sin <\/em>which is now our plague, disease, and torment;
\nall our needs<\/em>, and all possibility of needing \u2014 for God will fully supply all our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.<\/p>\n

Oh, what a mercy it will be to enjoy such freedom<\/em>, and to possess the inward consciousness that it will be enjoyed forever!<\/p>\n

The Christian will not only be free <\/em>from all that is painful and distressing \u2014 but he will also possess <\/strong>. . .
\nperfect, settled, and everlasting peace;
\nsinless faculties and immortal powers with which to serve and enjoy God forever;
\npermanent, perpetual, and uninterrupted joy;
\nthe presence and enjoyment of Jesus \u2014 we shall see Him, be with Him, and be like Him;
\nALL that we can consistently wish, desire, or pray for!<\/p>\n

O glorious hope! O blessed prospect! It leaves us nothing to long for, nothing to desire!<\/p>\n

Second, The Christian’s hope is laid up for him in Heaven<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It is laid up<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 that is, the substance of it is ready. It is laid up for us, therefore God appointed it for us. Jesus says it is a kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world. If it is laid up for us, there our hearts and our affections should be.<\/p>\n

It is laid up for us in Heaven<\/em><\/strong>. This betokens . . .
\nits excellency, being kept in so excellent a place;
\nits certainty and security, no thieves can break through to steal;
\nits nature, it is spiritual, holy, Heavenly.<\/p>\n

It is laid up in Heaven for you<\/em><\/strong>. This shows . . .
\nthat Jehovah knew all for whom he provided;
\nthat a man may know whether he has a hope laid up in Heaven or not;
\nthat well-instructed Christians do know and enjoy the fact.<\/p>\n

What rich grace has God displayed, in providing an inheritance in Heaven for us, and preparing us for that inheritance.<\/p>\n

Thirdly, The means by which he becomes acquainted with it<\/strong>, is the gospel. God’s gospel is the good news that he has given unto us eternal life. It contains the promise that all who believe in Jesus shall possess that life. It assures us, that all who sincerely desire it and earnestly seek for it \u2014 shall find it. It is called the Word of truth <\/em>because it is the true Word, or every Word of it is truth; because Christ, who is the truth, is its author, object, and end.<\/p>\n

Have we received the gospel? Did we understand it as informing us that God had made glorious provision for us in Heaven? Did it beget hope in our hearts that we would possess the kingdom promised to believers? Do we feel satisfied that the gospel is the true Word, and that every jot and tittle <\/em>of it must be accomplished?<\/p>\n

What a mercy it is . . .
\nwhen comforts run short,
\nwhen trials press sore,
\nwhen a dreary winter of affliction sets in<\/p>\n

\u2014 to remember that we have a priceless inheritance \u2014 an inheritance that is kept in heaven for us \u2014 pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay!<\/p>\n

How this blessed hope should . . .
\nquicken our zeal,
\nanimate our spirits, and
\nraise us above fear and despondency.<\/p>\n

It is not what we have now \u2014 but what we shall have in Heaven \u2014 which should affect us. The poor in this world, if rich in faith \u2014 are heirs of the kingdom which God has promised to those who love him. Oh, for clear views, bright evidences, and a steady hope of everlasting joys! Now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be \u2014 but when Jesus shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.<\/p>\n

Our glorious inheritance is vast <\/em>beyond calculation, it is safe <\/em>beyond the possibility of failure \u2014 but we must pass over Jordan <\/em>to possess it. It is on the other side of the river, in the promised land. Let us, therefore, gird up the loins of our minds, he sober, and hope steadily for the grace that is to he brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ, The wilderness will soon be passed, the storms of life will soon subside \u2014 and then eternal calm and unclouded sunshine, will soon be our happy, endless portion. All glory to free grace!<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

HOPE IN CHRIST ALONE<\/strong>
\nIf there is any grace in me, God put it there. Twas grace that set me apart in distinguishing love before the stars were made. Twas grace that set me apart from the mass of mankind. Twas grace that brought me safe this far, and grace will lead me home. Lay the foundation of your hope in Jesus Christ. Begin with Christ and end with Christ. As Christ Jesus becomes more to you, self will grow less and less. If your faith puffs you up, it is not the faith of Christ. God will help us when we are weak. He will bless us as long as we confess our dependence upon His blessing. He will fill us when we are empty. He will feed us when we are hungry. He will be our all when we are nothing. He will forgive us when we are guilty. But the moment we begin to boast in ourselves and feel sufficient, we will be left to learn, in no uncertain terms, that we are naked, poor, blind, and miserable. Terrible will be the day when proud rebels discover, too late, the dust and ashes of human merit! – John Newton<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Only two families inhabit earth (Henry Law, “Deuteronomy” 1858) Only two families inhabit earth. In principle, in taste, in habit, in desire\u2014 they are as separate as . . . light from darkness, cold from heat, life from death. There is the serpent’s seed. There is the heaven-born race. There is the world. There is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bulletin-editions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2876"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2876\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2877,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2876\/revisions\/2877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}